PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH TWO-PIECE HOUSING

• US 20120257341A1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam D. Mittleman, Erik Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Phillip M. Hobson
• Original Assignee: Adam D. Mittleman, Erik Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Phillip M. Hobson
• Inventors: Wang, Erik L., Hobson, Phillip M., Jenks, Kenneth A., Mittleman, Adam D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. During assembly, the first part may be rotated into place within the second part. Retention clips attached to the frame may be used to secure the two parts together. Assembly instructions and associated connector numbers may be provided within the devices.

Claims

1. An electronic device having an external body and having external surfaces, the electronic device comprising:

a single housing portion that forms a first portion of the external body of the electronic device, the single housing portion having an opening in a front face of the electronic device and having an edge portion, wherein the front face of the electronic device has a surface area; and

a display portion that has a periphery and that is mounted within the opening of the single housing portion, the edge portion of the single housing portion surrounding the periphery of the display portion, the display portion covering most of the surface area of the front face of the electronic device, the display portion forming a second portion of the external body of the electronic device, the display portion and single housing portion cooperating to form most of the external surfaces of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the single housing portion has external surfaces, wherein the display portion has at least one external surface, wherein the external surface of the display portion covers most of the surface area of the front face of the electronic device, and wherein the external surface of the display portion and the external surfaces of the single housing portion cooperate to form most of the external surfaces of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the external surface of the display portion lies flush with the edge portion of the single housing portion.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a gasket disposed between the display portion and the edge portion of the single housing portion.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display portion comprises a display and a display frame that carries the display.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the display comprises a touch sensor.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the single housing portion comprises a printed circuit board and a housing frame member that carries the printed circuit board.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the display portion comprises first engagement members that are connected to the display frame, wherein the single housing portion comprises second engagement members that are connected to the housing frame member, and wherein the second engagement members nondestructively engage the first engagement members when the display portion is mounted within the pocket of the single housing portion.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the first assembly comprises a printed circuit board and a housing frame member that carries the printed circuit board.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the second assembly comprises a display frame and first engagement members that are connected to the display frame, wherein the first assembly comprises second engagement members that are connected to the housing frame member, and wherein the second engagement members nondestructively engage the first engagement members when the second assembly is mounted within the opening of the first assembly.

9. An electronic device having an external body and having external surfaces, the electronic device comprising:

a first assembly that forms a first portion of the external body of the electronic device, the first assembly portion having an opening in a first side of the electronic device, wherein the first side of the electronic device has a surface area; and

a second assembly that has a periphery and that is mounted within the opening of the first assembly, the second assembly covering most of the surface area of the first side of the electronic device, the second assembly forming a second portion of the external body of the electronic device, the first assembly and the second assembly cooperating to form most of the external surfaces of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the first assembly includes a housing, a printed circuit board that is carried by the housing, and a member that surrounds the second assembly when the second assembly is mounted within the opening of the first assembly.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 further comprising a gasket disposed between the first and second assemblies.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the second assembly comprises a display and a display frame that carries the display.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the display comprises a touch sensor.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a first assembly comprising a first end, a second end, and a first member with first attachment means;

a second assembly comprising a first end, a second end, and a second member with second attachment means that mate with the first attachment means, wherein the first end of the first assembly is configured to engage the first end of the second assembly at an engagement axis, wherein the first assembly is configured to rotate into the second assembly about the engagement axis so that the first and second attachment means hold the first assembly in place within the second assembly; and

at least one screw that secures the first and second assemblies together, wherein the screw is located at the second ends of the first and second assemblies.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the at least one screw comprises a plurality of screws each of which screws into the first assembly through the second assembly.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the first attachment means comprise clips with holes and wherein the second attachment means comprise flexible prongs that protrude into the holes.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the first assembly comprises a display and a frame that is connected to the display and wherein the first engagement members are connected to the frame.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the second assembly comprises a housing, a printed circuit board that is carried by the housing, and a member that surrounds the display when the first assembly is inserted into the second assembly.